N39541

On October 25, 2003, at 1115 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, N39541, registered to and operated by a private pilot, nose wheel collapsed during emergency landing on runway 4 at Fayetteville Regional Airport, Fayetteville, North Carolina. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the incident. The airplane sustained minor damage, and the pilot was not injured. The flight departed Graves Creek Airport, Fayetteville, North Carolina, at 1110, on October 25, 2003.

According to the pilot after liftoff the elevator flight control became unresponsive and he could only control pitch with the elevator trim. The pilot flew to Fayetteville Regional Airport where he requested the longest runway for an emergency landing. During landing flare, the nose dropped when the pilot reduced engine power, and the nose wheel collided with the runway and collapsed.

Examination of the airplane revealed that the wreckage debris was scattered in the immediate vicinity of the wreckage. The airplane came to rest on a 040 degree magnetic heading approximately one third from the runway threshold. Examination of the airframe revealed that the left elevator cable assembly turnbuckle was broken at the MS21260S4LH cable terminal end. The terminal failed in the shank portion beneath the 0.040 safety wire wraps with only the safety wire maintaining the integrity between the turnbuckle assembly and the cable terminal end. The MS21260 flight control cable terminal on the opposite end of the turnbuckle also revealed evidence of corrosion.

The Piper Lance II Service Manual states "Check aileron, rudder, stabilator trim cables, turnbuckles, guides and pulleys for safety, damage and operation". The Piper recommended inspection times are every 100, 500, and 1000 hours of flight time. A review of maintenance records showed that the failed assembly had a total time of 2,633 hours but had been in service for 25 years.